
There’s been a lot of excitement building around the next Marvel team-up movie, with Disney reportedly very pleased with how it’s shaping up. Some industry insiders even predict it will be the biggest Marvel film in seven years and dominate the box office this year. However, the simultaneous release of another major film could present a challenge to the Avengers and make their December release a bit more competitive.
Movie studios often avoid releasing films at the same time as Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movies to avoid being overshadowed. So, when it was announced that Dune: Part Three would debut on December 18, 2026 – the same day as a new Marvel film – people quickly nicknamed it “Dunesday.” This raised concerns about whether the final installment in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune series could succeed at the box office during the busy holiday season. However, recent developments may give Dune: Part Three a significant advantage.
Discussing Film reports that the upcoming Dune movie will be the only one of the two films initially released in IMAX theaters in the United States. While Avengers: Doomsday will have IMAX showings in other countries, Dune has secured exclusive access to the largest screens in America.
As a movie fan, I’m telling you, Warner Bros. is making a huge play here to really challenge Disney. It could be a major win for them, especially opening weekend! These days, premium formats like IMAX are crucial for blockbusters. People who are going to the theater want the best experience, and IMAX is where it’s at – the numbers really show that. By preventing Avengers: Doomsday from getting that extra boost from IMAX ticket prices, Dune: Part Three has evened things out a bit before its big showdown with Marvel. It’s a smart move to make the competition fairer, and I’m excited to see how it all plays out.

Warner Bro.
I’m really excited for the next Avengers movie, and it’s interesting to hear about the release date! Apparently, Marvel gave the Russo brothers extra time to polish it, which is a great sign. From what I understand, they’re already ahead of schedule with some additional filming happening soon, meaning it’ll definitely be ready for the December 18th release. It makes me wonder, though – if Disney wants to avoid competing directly with the new Dune movie, they could potentially move Doomsday up a week or two. But honestly, I can’t imagine why they would, even without IMAX showings. It seems like a solid release date as is!
Everyone is predicting that Avengers: Doomsday will be one of the decade’s biggest blockbusters. While many movie fans enjoy seeing films in IMAX, traditional screenings still generate the majority of ticket sales. In 2023, Oppenheimer broke records as the highest-grossing IMAX release ever, earning $190 million of its $975 million total. However, Avatar: Fire and Ash, known for its stunning visual effects, only made $185 million from IMAX showings, despite a massive $1.47 billion worldwide box office.
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If we compare it to other blockbusters, Avatar: Fire and Ash‘s performance in IMAX is likely comparable to what Avengers: Doomsday would have achieved with full access to that format. The film is predicted to surpass James Cameron’s Avatar, potentially earning over $2 billion worldwide. So far, Denis Villeneuve’s Dune films have collectively earned around $1.1 billion, with Dune: Part Two bringing in $715 million this year alone. Because of this strong performance, Disney isn’t worried about competition just yet, even without considering IMAX numbers.
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2026-02-26 16:22